Reebok Terminates Sponsorship Of Jon Jones In The Wake Of Hit-And-Run Arrest
In the wake of his hit-and-run arrest, Reebok has made the decision to terminate their sponsorship of ex-UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones.
“In light of recent events, we have made the decision to terminate our contract with Jon Jones, effective immediately,” a statement provided to MMAjunkie read.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell was the first to report the news, less than 24 hours after the UFC stripped Jones’ title and suspended him indefinitely.
“BREAKING: Reebok has terminated the contract of UFC fighter Jon Jones effective immediately,” Rovell tweeted. “Jon Jones becomes 1st athlete to lose two shoe & apparel deals (Nike and now Reebok) in 8 months.”
BREAKING: Reebok has terminated the contract of UFC fighter Jon Jones effective immediately.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 29, 2015
Jon Jones becomes 1st athlete to lose two shoe & apparel deals (Nike and now Reebok) in 8 months.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) April 29, 2015
According to TMZ, Jones had been with Rebok since December when the company signed Jon and Ronda Rousey to big sponsorship deals.
UFC president Dana White made an announcement on Tuesday, April 28, regarding Jones’ future with the UFC. He said that he and CEO Lorenzo Fertitta reportedly met with Jones in Albuquerque, New Mexico before making their final decision. They then determined their decision based on Jon’s violation of its athlete code of conduct policy with his latest arrest.
“What we wanted to find out is what the facts were,” White said. “We wanted to hear Jon’s side of the story and we wanted to hear what his lawyer had to say about it.”
“He’s very disappointed. He’s upset,” White told Fox Sports. “He wanted to go down as one of the greats, or the greatest ever. He’s disappointed, but it is what it is. It was the decision we had to make.”
“For us to have to go in and strip him of his title and suspend (Jones), you know, it’s not fun. But the show goes on.”
“UFC feels strongly that its athletes must uphold certain standards both in and out of the Octagon,” the UFC said in a statement. “While there is disappointment in the recent charges, the organization remains supportive of Jones as he works through the legal process.”
White says Jones is focusing on his legal matters at the moment, after he was arrested in New Mexico on an alleged hit-and-run incident that left a pregnant woman with a broken arm.
Do you think Reebok is justified in terminating Jon Jones’ sponsorship? Leave your comments below.
[Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images]
